“For me, teaching isn’t just about developing technical skills; it’s about showing students the value of persistence, craftsmanship, and pride in their work.”
Randy Zimmerman teaches automotive collision repair and finishing at Union County High School in Blairsville, Georgia. His extensive experience began in his youth working alongside his grandfather and includes fleet maintenance and repair, high-end car restoration, and insurance collision repair. After earning an ASE Master certification in 1979 and spending nearly five decades in the industry, he was asked to return to his alma mater to teach in its automotive program. Zimmerman uses rebuilt vehicles to provide real-world, hands-on learning for his students and shape the next generation of skilled technicians.
Zimmerman’s students restore late-model, insurance-salvaged vehicles to pass Georgia state inspection, giving them the chance to learn and practice procedures that meet industry standards. Once students complete restoration and the car passes inspection, it is sold to the public to benefit their program. In their shop, organized into structured workstations with rotations, Zimmerman incorporates industry-recognized checklists, one-on-one coaching, and peer mentoring to keep students engaged and focused. He also uses SkillsUSA competitions to drive students’ technical growth and professional development. Through close relationships with local repair facilities and parts suppliers, Zimmerman shares new techniques and standards to give his students a strong and relevant technical foundation. Drawing on his 46-year career and shop owner experience, he teaches students not just to repair but to communicate effectively and to exercise precision, patience, and pride.
Notes of Excellence
- Zimmerman recently applied to the 3M Collision Instructor Training Program, which focuses on advanced body and refinishing techniques aligned with OEM standards.
- In his first two years of teaching, over 85 percent of his students earned one or more ASE Entry-Level Certifications in areas like safety, non-structural repair, refinishing, and damage analysis.
- The collision repair program follows Georgia CTAE standards and incorporates ASE and I-CAR-based techniques, ensuring that students learn current, industry-relevant skills that meet today’s shop expectations.